Iraq: Call-out of Reservists

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to call out further reservists as part of their continuing contingency preparations for Iraq.

Lord Bach: In the statement made by my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary (Mr Hoon) on 7 January (Official Report, cols. 23–5) in another place we informed the House that we had made an order under Section 54(1) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable the call-out of reservists for possible operations against Iraq. We explained that the overall scale of mobilisation would depend upon the continuing evolution of our contingency planning, that we envisaged initially sending out sufficient call-out notices to secure around 1,500 reservists, and that we would issue further notices as appropriate.
	That process of calling out and mobilising reservists is under way. By 24 January, the services had issued 2,063 notices. As was explained in the Statement on 7 January, the number of notices issued has to be significantly larger than the number of reservists required to allow for the proportion who are likely to be genuinely unavailable.
	Further contingency planning has now clarified the likely size and shape of our additional requirements, in particular in the light of the decision we reached recently on the size and composition of land forces that we plan to deploy, which was described in the Statement made by my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary (Mr Hoon) on 20 January (Official Report, cols. 34–5) in another place. Our latest assessment is that our overall requirement for reservists is likely to be up to 6,000, including those currently in the process of mobilisation. We will now issue further call-out notices over the coming weeks to enable us to meet this requirement. The size of the requirement will remain under review as our planning continues.

Legal Services Ombudsman

Lord Prys-Davies: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they are making with regard to the recruitment of the Legal Services Ombudsman.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I am pleased to report that I have appointed Dr Zahida Manzoor as Legal Services Ombudsman.
	The appointment is for a three-year fixed term in the first instance and Dr Manzoor is expected to take up post on 3 March 2003.
	Dr Manzoor is co-founder and marketing director of her own company. She was formerly a member of the NHS Policy Board, regional chair of the NHS Executive, Northern and Yorkshire Regions, Commissioner and deputy chair of the Commission for Racial Equality and chair of the Bradford Health Authority.

British Energy plc

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimates they have received from (a) Credit Suisse First Boston and (b) Slaughter and May of the fees they are likely to charge for advising them in relation to the financial restructuring of British Energy plc; and
	What fees they have so far paid to (a) Credit Suisse First Boston and (b) Slaughter and May for advising them in relation to the financial restructuring of British Energy plc.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In the light of the uncertainty over the duration and nature of any restructuring of British Energy while its restructuring proposals are considered by the company's creditors, the Government have not requested estimates from any adviser of likely fees over the longer term. Short-term estimates are requested, as appropriate, as part of overall adviser monitoring. To date, the department has been invoiced for or paid around £2.7 million to Credit Suisse First Boston and around £2 million to Slaughter and May.

British Electricity (Trading and Transmission) Bill

Baroness Gale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the draft Electricity (Trading and Transmission) Bill.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The draft Electricity (Trading and Transmission) Bill, which will bring forward the British Electricity Transmission and Trading Arrangements (BETTA), is being published today. The Trade and Industry Committee will now undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill and will issue a report by Easter. Copies of the draft Bill and draft explanatory notes are available in the House Library. A regulatory impact assessment has been published on DTI and Ofgem's website.

Glyphosate Resistant Weeds

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will investigate the emergence of round-up resistant (glyphosate tolerant) weeds in the states of Delaware, Maryland, Western Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana and California before taking further decisions about genetically modified crops in Britain.

Lord Whitty: The Government are aware of the emergence of glyphosate resistant weeds resulting from the continuous use of this herbicide on some genetically modified herbicide tolerant (GMht) soya crops in Amercia. Over the past 30 years or more (before the advent of GM crop cultivation), continual use of herbicides has imposed selection pressure for increased resistance within weed species that were formally susceptible. There are several characteristics of herbicides and their use that are thought to contribute to a high risk for selection of resistance in weeds. Glyphosate meets these criteria and is one of the herbicides to which resistant weeds have evolved.
	An international survey of herbicide resistant weeds identified Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) as the main glyphosate resistant weed in America (in Delaware, Tennessee, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio). The only other glyphosate resistance species identified in this survey was in California—rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum—please refer to http://www.weedscience.org/in.asp). As Horseweed and rye grass are not sexually compatible with soya (Glycine max), glyphosate resistance was not acquired through the transfer of genes from the herbicide resistant soya.
	Part of the UK's pesticide regulatory regime requires pesticide approval holders to address the risk of resistance and, if applicable, produce a management strategy to avoid or manage resistance. This applies equally to GMht and conventional crops alike. In addition, under the GMO safety legislation (Directive 2001/18/EU), management strategies applied to GM crops are considered as part of a detailed risk assessment.

Scott Henderson Inquiry

Lord Henley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the conclusions of the 1951 Scott Henderson inquiry with particular regard to cruelty and suffering.

Lord Whitty: The definition of cruelty adopted by the Scott Henderson inquiry into cruelty to wild animals was the causing of unnecessary suffering.
	The report recommended that all wild animals should be brought within the provisions of the Protection of Animals Acts, but:
	"nothing in the Act should apply to the commission or omission of any act in the course of hunting, pursuit, capture, destruction or attempted destruction of any wild animal unless such hunting etc., was accompanied by the infliction of unnecessary suffering" (paragraph 419).
	The Government agree with the definition of cruelty contained in the Scott Henderson report, which is well established in law. The key purpose of the Hunting Bill is to prevent the unnecessary suffering—that is, the cruelty—associated with hunting with dogs. The Bill recognises the need to deal with pests and to protect livestock and crops but would permit hunting for this purpose only where there is no other method reasonably available that would cause less suffering.
	The Government set up their own inquiry, the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales (the Burns report). The Burns report and related documents were published in 2000. My right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs also undertook a wide-ranging consultation exercise which has been praised by both sides of the debate as uniquely open, transparent and fair, My right honourable friend met a large range of organisations and individuals to listen to their views. He also undertook three days of public hearings in Portcullis House in September. This work has informed the drafting of the Hunting Bill, published on 3 December 2002.

Farm Income, Output and Productivity of Agriculture

Lord Prys-Davies: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish revised estimates of farm income, output and productivity of agriculture during 2002.

Lord Whitty: Revised estimates of farm income, output and productivity of agriculture during 2002 were published on 30 January. These confirm the increase in farm incomes forecast last November and indicate a rise of 15 per cent (14 in real terms) compared to 2001.
	Details have been placed in the Library of the House.

Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council held on 3 December; and what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including their voting record.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health represented the United Kingdom for the health element of the first day of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 2 December 2002; the consumer affairs items were also taken on that day.
	The main health business of this Council related to tobacco. The Council reached qualified majority on a first reading deal on the Tobacco Advertising Directive. My right honourable friend emphasised that the UK supports European Union legislation on tobacco advertising, having strong domestic legislation in place. He made clear the Government's determination to ensure that the legal victories secured by the tobacco companies over previous European legislation would not be repeated with this directive. He therefore voted against the directive because he did not think that the drafting of some provisions was good enough or that it went as far as it could in some areas (for example, by not covering cigarette papers).
	A Council recommendation on the prevention of smoking and on initiatives to improve tobacco control was adopted by a qualified majority, with support from the UK. The Commission also gave an update on the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
	Member states set out their positions on the pharmaceuticals reviews, with a discussion on three key outstanding issues in the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) Regulation. There was no vote on this item. On scope, the UK was among several member states who spoke out against extension of the centralised procedure for human medicines and in favour of a choice for companies. Others supported the Commission. Most felt that member states should appoint at least one member to the management board. Many were willing to consider also accepting representatives of patient groups or the European Parliament. A majority of member states and the Commission were able to accept the Presidency compromise of a single renewal of an authorisation after five years.
	Council adopted a recommendation on the prevention and reduction of risks associated with drug dependence. Council conclusions on action against obesity were adopted unanimously. The UK voted in favour of both of these items.
	The Presidency presented a progress report on negotiations on a directive setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human cells and tissues. The Commission said that it would look carefully at the changes in scope the Council was proposing in relation to the medicinal products and medical devices directives.
	The Commission updated the Council on the high level process of reflection on patient mobility and health care development and on the programme of co-operation on bioterrorism and health security. The Commission will be tabling a proposal to set up a network centre for disease control in May 2003, to be set up in 2005. The aim is to enhance the EU capacity to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, working closely with member states' own institutions.
	The Commission reported that it had established a working group to consider the quality of information on Internet sites in the health sector. The group, consisting of representatives from government, non-government organisations and industry, has reported and agreed actions, including measures on transparency, privacy and accountability. The Commission will monitor work through the E-Europe 2005 Action Plan.
	Items under any other business included an information paper from Ireland on post-polio syndrome. There was also a brief discussion on the follow-up to the G10 initiative on the pharmaceutical industry. A Commission communication was under preparation and should issue in May 2003. Italy announced it would have an informal ministerial meeting on this during its Presidency. Finally, there was a presentation from Belgium on its candidate for the director-generalship of the WHO, Peter Piot.
	The consumer part of the Council met with minimal discussion over a short agenda.
	The Council adopted a resolution on Community consumer policy strategy 2002–06 without debate, endorsing the aims and objectives of the Commission's strategy as published in May 2002, namely a high common level of consumer protection, effective enforcement and the involvement of consumer organisations. The UK voted in favour, as did all other member states.
	The Council and the Commission endorsed the Presidency's conclusions on a joint Commission-UK seminar held in November on using consumer statistics to inform and prioritise consumer policy. In accordance with the conclusions, the Commission will take forward technical work on definitions and the comparability of consumer statistics.
	As an information point only, the Council took note of a Commission presentation on the preliminary results of the European Extra-Judicial Network (EEJ-Net), the EU network of clearing houses designed to facilitate and resolve cross-border, out-of-court consumer disputes.
	Finally, Greece informed the Council that it wanted to contribute to the consumer agenda during its forthcoming Presidency by strengthening its involvement in the internal market. It highlighted in particular a seminar on the Commission's Green Paper on consumer protection to be held with the Commission and Sweden on 24 February 2003 and a ministerial conference on unfair trading to be held on 7 May 2003.

Children's Interests

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will appoint a co-ordinator whose responsibility would be to promote children's interests across government departments.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: I agree with the noble Lord that the interests of children need to be promoted across government. This is why the Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU) was set up, with a remit to ensure that issues concerning children and young people are represented and taken into consideration in government policy and to influence policy in the interest of children and young people. This role is further endorsed by the 2002 Spending Review settlement.
	Children's interests are also co-ordinated and promoted through the Minister for Young People and the Cabinet Committee on Children and Young People's Services, which comprises Secretaries of State from 11 government departments with a key interest in policies and services for children and young people. The Government are currently exploring the pros and cons of establishing a children's commissioner.

Languages Strategy

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their priorities for the allocation of public funds as between funding of initial teacher training primary places in (a) French (b) Spanish (c) German and (d) each of the other European Union languages respectively.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Our Languages Strategy makes clear that primary schools will be expected to offer an EU language as part of the language entitlement. We are funding initial teacher training primary places in French, Spanish and German for 2003–04 to support that expectation and to reflect their popularity. The allocation of primary language ITT places will be finalised in February.
	The strategy also sets out our intention to increase the number of ITT places for modern foreign languages in subsequent years. ITT allocations for other European languages will be considered for 2004–05, based on demand from schools and ITT providers.

Languages Strategy

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 13 January (WA 24) what are their priorities for the allocation of public funds for each element of the national Languages Strategy for England.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Our main priority is to achieve a step change in language competency in this country, create an appetite for learning and broaden and enrich opportunities for language learning at school and beyond. In the current funding period, our main priorities will be the development of a recognition scheme, increasing teacher and specialist non-teacher supply, the appointment of a national director for languages, the development of international partnerships and the creation of Pathfinder projects to support the introduction of an entitlement to language learning in primary schools.

Advanced Teaching Assistants

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the anticipated cost of training advanced teaching assistants to qualify for supervising whole classes in school.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The proposal to establish standards and training for the new role of higher level teaching assistant is included in my department's consultation document Developing the role of school support staff. The costs of training for the role will depend inevitably on decisions about the model of training, which will not be made until the outcomes of the consultation are known after its deadline of 22 January 2003.

Oxford and Cambridge Colleges

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list (a) public Acts of Parliament and (b) private Acts of Parliament which would need to be amended or repealed if they were to attempt to end the autonomy of Oxford and Cambridge colleges.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We have no plans to change the autonomy of Oxford and Cambridge colleges and have not considered what amendments would be necessary to amend or repeal the various private Acts and other legislation relating to Oxford and Cambridge universities and their constituent colleges.

Late Night Licences

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many late night licences have been withdrawn on evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police.

Baroness Blackstone: Information is not held centrally on the number of justices' on-licences which have a special hours certificate and public entertainment licences permitting late night music and dancing that have been revoked or not renewed.

Gambling Machine Payment Methods

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When passing legislation on the modernising of gambling machine payment methods, whether they will deregulate to allow the use of banknotes and prepaid smart cards in addition to coinage in gaming machines.

Baroness Blackstone: That remains our intention. In A Safe Bet for Success, which the Government published in March 2002 and which set out our plans for the overall reform of the controls on gambling, we said that we would change the law on adults-only gaming machines to allow them to use these payment methods. In March 2001, we consulted on proposals to achieve these objectives by means of an order under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, and we will be announcing our decision on taking that forward soon.

Amusement Arcade Machines

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why two types of amusement arcade machines, namely cranes and redemption, are included in the Government's definition of machines as Category D.

Baroness Blackstone: Under current law, crane and redemption machines found in arcades are classed as gaming machines if they involve gambling. That will remain the case under our plans for the reform of the law on gambling, which we have set out in A Safe Bet for Success. Under our plans, the only gaming machines which will be allowed to be made available for play by children will be those classified as Category D.

Saville Inquiry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many researchers and messengers are required by the legal teams which they are funding and who are attending the Bloody Sunday Inquiry; what are their qualifications; and how much have they cost to date.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government (either through the inquiry or relevant government departments) provide funds only to counsel and to the firms of solicitors who represent interested parties or limited representation to quasi-interested parties; for example, those representing media witnesses. The hourly rate allowed for fee earners (counsel, solicitors, assistant solicitors and paralegals) include clerical support overheads. It is from the fees payable to the legal teams (details of these payments in respect of the families and NICRA were included in answer to a Parliamentary Question from the honourable Member for East Londonderry on 13 January 2003 (Hansard, col. 434W) that they pay for any administrative support necessary. The inquiry does not have details of whom the legal teams employ or their qualifications or remuneration. It is also for the individual legal teams to determine who might need to attend in support on any particular day, but they are not in any event paid a separate attendance fee.
	The inquiry itself has an administrative team to provide support to the tribunal, counsel and solicitors, all of whom are civil servants or on short-term Civil Service contracts.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Physical Fitness Requirements

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the original physical fitness requirements for all recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and
	What are the current physical fitness requirements for all recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: All applicants in the first three Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment competitions had to complete successfully the physical competence assessment as a requirement of the recruitment process.
	The Chief Constable has decided that applicants in the current competition should not be required to complete successfully the physical competence assessment as a prerequisite to appointment. The point of assessment has instead been moved to the end of the student officer training course. However the requirement successfully to complete the assessment prior to attestation as a constable remains.

Ards Hospital, Newtownards

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals there are to make full use of the buildings and sites at Ards Hospital, Newtownards.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust is currently considering proposals and developing a business case to enhance and modernise services on the Ards Hospital campus. An overall rationalisation exercise is also being considered and this may lead to the sale of surplus assets in the trust. In the near future the trust intends to commence a public consultation process on the future provision of services, both in Newtownards and Bangor.

Loughries and Whiterock, Killinchy: Sewage Disposal

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many additional homes can have their foul sewage connected to Loughries sewage works before it has reached full capacity; and
	What is the present system for the treatment of foul sewage from homes at Whiterock, Killinchy; and how many additional homes can be connected to this system before it reaches full capacity.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The matters raised are for the Water Service (Northern Ireland). I have asked the chief executive, Robert C Martin, to write to the noble Lord. Copies of the letters will be placed in the Library.

Newtownards: Road Construction

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) When they plan to construct the link road between Portaferry Road and Comber Road in Newtownards; and
	(b) what progress has been made to determine the planning application for the Castlebawn development in Newtownards.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The subject matters raised are the responsibility of the Roads Service (Northern Ireland). I have asked the chief executive, Dr D M McKibbin, to write to the noble Lord. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Parliamentary Network: e-mails

Lord Greaves: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether the filtering of e-mails by the Parliamentary Communications Directorate includes censorship of e-mails to and from Members of the House of Lords in line with that applied to Members of the House of Commons; if so, what guidance has been published as to what may and may not be written; what is the definition of "profanities of a sexual or offensive nature"; and who is responsible for setting the rules.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: In response to concerns from users of the Parliamentary Network about the amount of unwanted and, in some cases, obscene e-mail being received, and with the agreement of the Information Committees of both Houses, the Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD) introduced a new service on 13 January to block incoming e-mails from non-parliamentary addresses which contain inappropriate or offensive text. PCD recognises that, on occasion, correspondents may legitimately use strong language, and incoming e-mails that contain only a few mild expletives will be unaffected. Only those e-mails that contain a high proportion of the most offensive obscenities are blocked automatically. Futhermore, in order to prevent genuine e-mails from being lost, the sender of any e-mail that is blocked will be notified and invited to contact the intended recipient to arrange for the e-mail to be released.
	The service does not affect e-mails sent from addresses within the Parliamentary Network either to external or other internal addresses or e-mails sent by remote users of the Network via Citrix. The arrangements for incoming e-mails apply equally to Members and staff of both Houses.

Ayrshire and Arran: STIs

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of (a) syphilis, (b) gonorrhoea and (c) chlamydia were recorded in Ayrshire and Arran in the last year for which figures are available; and what are these figures expressed as a percentage increase or decrease in the previous year.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The provision of statistical information on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been a devolved matter since July 1999. However, the incidence of STIs in Ayrshire and Arran from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 is as follows:
	Syphilis 3
	Gonorrhoea 17
	Chlamydia 158
	(These figures exclude epidemiological treatment for suspected cases of the above conditions.)
	More recent statistics are a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Trade in Services

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the response of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the recent Department of Trade and Industry consultation, Liberalising Trade in Services; and what representations the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received on the matter.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was involved in the drafting of the consultation document Liberalising Trade in Services and it will be fully involved in formulating the Government's response in areas of relevant policy interest.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a number of representations from local authorities on this matter. The points raised will be fully considered in preparing the Government's response to the consultation.

Immigration Removal Centres: Visiting Hours

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the visiting hours at each of the detention centres at which asylum applicants are detained.

Lord Filkin: The visiting hours at each of the immigration removal centres are as follows:
	
		
			 Centre Visiting hours 
			 Campsfield Between 2 pm–5 pm and 6 pm–9 pm daily for social visits. The break is to accommodate the detainees' evening meal. Between 9 am–noon, 1.30 pm–5 pm and 6.30 pm–9 pm daily for legal visits. 
			 Dover Between 2 pm and 4.15 pm daily for legal and social visits. 
			  Between 9 am and 11.15 am, Monday to Friday for legal visits. 
			 Dungavel Between 1.30 pm and 8.30 pm daily for social visits. 
			  Between 9 am–noon and 1.30 pm–9 pm for legal visits. 
			 Lindholme Between 1.45 pm and 4 pm daily 
			 Harmondsworth Between 2 pm and 9 pm daily 
			 Haslar Between 1.30 pm and 4 pm daily, except on Wednesday. 
			 Oakington Between 2 pm–5 pm and 7 pm–9 pm daily for social visits. 
			  Legal representatives are on site. Outside legal representatives may visit their clients between 9.30 am to 9.30 pm daily. 
			 Tinsley House Between 9 am and 9 pm daily for legal visits. 
			  Between 2 pm and 9 pm daily for social visits. 
		
	
	Where a detainee is due to be removed, or in other exceptional or urgent circumstances, efforts will be made to accommodate visits outside the normal visiting hours.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the insurers of Yarl's Wood Detention Centre; what is the amount of the claim in respect of the fire which caused extensive damage on 14 February 2002; what negotiations have taken place regarding the claim; and what is now the position regarding insurance of each of the other establishments where asylum seekers are detained.

Lord Filkin: Insurance provisions in respect of the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre and any claims arising from it are the responsibility of Group Four Amey International Limited in accordance with the contract for the management and operation of the centre. The insurance provisions are in the joint names of the Home Office and the contractor. The total insurance claim is £97 million. Negotiations have been on-going with the contractor and other interested parties since the incident last February. The terms of insurance cover for other establishments where asylum seekers are detained are subject to negotiation as and when they become due for renewal.

Review of Police Shootings 1998–2001

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the Police Complaints Authority's Review of Shootings by Police in England and Wales between 1998 and 2001.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We are pleased to be able to place in the Library a copy of the Police Complaints Authority's (PCA) Review of Shootings by Police in England and Wales between 1998 and 2001.
	We commissioned this review under Section 79(1) of the Police Act 1996, which allows the Home Secretary to call for a report from the PCA on issues of concern. We announced the terms of reference to Parliament on 20 November 2001. They were:
	"The review will consider what lessons can be learnt from the investigations into police shootings which have resulted in death or injury since January 1998.
	In particular the review will look at:
	The planning, control and conduct of operations;
	The way in which the concerns of the bereaved families were addressed, and how they were kept informed of the progress of the investigation; and
	The training and skill needs of the police officers involved in such operations, particularly at command level."
	We are very grateful to the PCA, and in particular to Mr Alan Bailey, Dr David Best and the two deputy chairs for the hard work and expertise they have brought to this report.
	We welcome the report and its positive findings. It covers a very difficult and demanding area of police work, where great professionalism is needed. Rightly, it gives credit to police forces for the small number of shots discharged by police officers in armed responses and praises much policing practice. The overall picture is very positive and it gives clear guidance on how best to manage firearms operations to minimise threat to life.
	We commissioned the report in order to make sure that the lessons from each individual incident could be learned and shared by all forces. While there is always understandable public concern when someone who is shot turns out to be unarmed, we must recognise that armed police face enormously difficult decisions. Sometimes these decisions have tragic consequences, and it is nonetheless essential to ensure that operational procedures, training and support to officers minimises the number of avoidable deaths and injuries.
	Our police officers are not routinely armed. The use of firearms is a rare last resort, considered only where there is a serious risk to public or police safety. When it is necessary for police officers to deploy firearms, it is vital that they are properly equipped and expertly trained to respond effectively to the serious situations they have to face. Police use of firearms is subject to stringent guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which govern training, control and the conduct of operations. This is reflected in their excellent record against international standards.
	The PCA report makes a number of recommendations to further improve the management of firearms incidents. Many of these are already under way and we have published an action plan today, which we will also place in the Library, which sets out how we will work with the police service and other agencies to build on existing good work and take forward the recommendations in the report. We are determined to build on the good practice already in place by working closely with the police and others, including mental health professionals.
	It is essential that our police have effective less lethal alternatives available to them. The search for suitable less lethal options is complex and requires in-depth consideration of a range of issues. After rigorous medical and operational trials, and at ACPO's request, we have agreed that pilots on taser use will go ahead. If any less lethal options are ultimately recommended to police these must provide real tactical solutions to disorder and violence.